To be a disciple of Christ

It's been almost a week since i got back from scotland. as i type, fireworks are pleasantly disturbing the darkness of the winter night (i can see the display from my window!)- 2 nights in a row at that, in commemoration of the capture of Guy Fawkes (Guido Fawkes) on the 5th of november 1605. Guy fawkes and bonfire night celebrates the failure of the gunpowder plot (by catholic conspirators, led by Guy Fawkes) which aimed to blow up the houses of parliament during the reign of King James I, a protestant.

It seems ironic, in a way, to me that people are celebrating an event that occurred so very long ago when at this very moment, innocent people in the middle east are suffering and dying from invasion/intrusion of their land by allied troops. i find the poppy appeal that's going on at the moment a little dodgy too. there are people out there who are more in need of money. the history of the poppy appeal and how it came about is fine but i wouldn't advocate it now. it all seems too selfish.

Anyway, back to the point...

The church retreat last weekend @Rowedennan Youth Hostel in Stirling was absolutely fantastic. the theme was "what the Lord expects of you." sermons were given in line with the theme and taught us how we should act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. sam aaron's workshop on "how to be a disciple of christ" was particularly impactful. "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" -philippians 1:21. how powerful, i'm so far from that.. Jesus taught that in order to follow Him, we should take up our cross daily. i'm ashamed to say that i haven't been doing so/doing enough. instead, i have been allowing myself to be seduced by the world. God is my master, my life belongs to Him. i should live for Him daily and be ever-ready (emotionally and spiritually) whenever He decides to call. its a scary thought - that God might call me one day to fulfil His plans... to put away everything in order to follow Him is the (HUGE) price to pay for being disciple of Jesus. i wonder whether i'll ever be ready.

These are such basic principles. i've known all these for ages and yet i need constant reminding and they are so difficult to keep to. Being a christian is not easy. Lord give me strength to perservere with the faith.

Matthew 6:19-20
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Pictures of the retreat to end off...

Rowerdennan Youth Hostel

View of Loch Lomond - from inside the hostel!!

Loch Lomond is Scotland's largest loch in terms of surface area. in terms of volume, Loch Ness is the largest.

On the way up Ben Lomond

Ben Lomond is the most southerly of the munros and is nicknamed Glasgow Hill due to its easy accessibility from Scotland's largest city of Glasgow.

Half way up - Look at the view!

We were too short for time and ill-equipped to scale the full munro. (A Munro is a Scottish mountain with a height over 3000 feet (914.4 metres). They (munros) are named after Sir Hugh Munro (1856 – 1919), who produced the first attempt at an exhaustive catalogue of such hills, known as Munro's Tables, in 1891.)

Ego pic